Activation of the EGFR/ERK pathway in high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas of the salivary glands
Open Access
- 27 July 2010
- journal article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in British Journal of Cancer
- Vol. 103 (4), 510-516
- https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6605788
Abstract
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) shows differences in biological behaviour depending mainly on its histological grade. High-grade tumours usually have an aggressive biological course and they require additional oncological treatment after surgery. In a series of 43 MECs of the salivary glands, we studied the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene by using dual-colour chromogenic in situ hybridisation (CISH). Moreover, we assessed the protein expressions of the EGFR and the activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (pERK1/2) by using immunohistochemistry. These results were correlated with the histological grade of the tumours and the outcome of the patients. The CISH study demonstrated a high-EGFR gene copy number, with balanced chromosome 7 polysomy, in 8 out of 11 high-grade MECs (72.7%), whereas 27 low-grade and 15 intermediate-grade tumours had a normal EGFR gene copy number (P<0.001). The EGFR gene gains correlated with disease-free interval (P=0.003) and overall survival of the patients (P=0.019). The EGFR protein expression had a significant correlation with the histological grade of the tumours but not with the outcome of the patients. The pERK1/2 expression correlated with histological grade of tumours (P<0.001), disease-free interval (P=0.004) and overall survival (P=0.001). The EGFR/ERK pathway is activated in high-grade MECs with aggressive behaviour. Patients with these tumours who require oncological treatment in addition to surgery could benefit from EGFR and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway inhibitors.Keywords
This publication has 41 references indexed in Scilit:
- Expression of Sorafenib Targets in Melanoma Patients Treated with Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and SorafenibClinical Cancer Research, 2009
- Epidermal growth factor receptor kinase domain mutations are rare in salivary gland carcinomasBritish Journal of Cancer, 2009
- Treatment and survival outcomes based on histologic grading in patients with head and neck mucoepidermoid carcinomaCancer, 2008
- Cetuximab in the treatment of metastatic mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary glands: A case report and review of literatureJournal of Medical Case Reports, 2008
- Salivary gland-type lung carcinomas: an EGFR immunohistochemical, molecular genetic, and mutational analysis studyLaboratory Investigation, 2008
- Detection of drug-sensitizing EGFR exon 19 deletion mutations in salivary gland carcinomaBritish Journal of Cancer, 2008
- Identical epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in adenocarcinomatous and squamous cell carcinomatous components of adenosquamous carcinoma of the lungCancer, 2006
- Erlotinib in Lung Cancer — Molecular and Clinical Predictors of OutcomeThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2005
- Bronchioloalveolar CarcinomaClinical Cancer Research, 2004
- EGFR and cancer prognosisEuropean Journal of Cancer, 2001